Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-06-10
start, but controlled his voice to ask

"Le0OX-Ue0OX frltclaru, anu
had little brother Lenox, but be
died, to-" the little one ran on in al
artless way, but John Matthew:
heard only the name "Lenox Prit
chard," and and asked: what regi
ment did be belong to 2" Gone hun
nred and Fortieth Pennsylvania,
was the reply. "The same" be
mused. at must be my man. Sure
ly there would not be two of such al
uncommon name in the same regi
ment."
He piled the child with other ques
tions, but she could only tell that
she was an infant when her father
went away, and was now almost
eleven years old, and that her name
was Nell The ceremonies in the
cemetery being oyer, he asked her to
take him to her mother. AT the
door the older sister, Alice, met
them.
Without waiting for an introduc.
ton, he said: "This lutte girl tells
me that her fathers name was LeEoX
Pritchard, and that he was member
of the One Hundred and Fortieth
Pennsylvania"
Eyes, and he was killed at Spott-
sylvania, May II, 1864"
"Did he volunteer, Or-W
"He went as substitute for a gen.
tIemau who had been drafted" sne
replied"
81 thought so. Can you tell me
that mans name - he asked hoarsely.
"I never heard the name, l believe, u
said Alice looking at her questioner
curiously.
"I'd give good deal to know
said he"
Il can ascertain from mother. She
knows all about the enlistment" "
Alice returned.
If you would allow me to speak to
her myself I would be greatly oblig-
ed," the farmer ventured.
Certainly, but you will find US in
Strengthened circumstances, she an
swered, leading the way up the rick
ETY. stairs. The room to which she
ushered him was neat and clean but
almost destitute of furniture L
emaciated mother was lying on the
only bed the room possessed.
Plunging right into business, be
was not long in ascertaiDing that tue
Lenox oritchard be sent away from
wife and children, and the Lenox
Pritchard who slept on the lonely
battle field were Identical
"That man died for me-" he ex-
claimed "My bones ought to be
mouldering in that lonely grave, and
Lenox PritchLrd ought to be here
providing for his helpless family"
"It was no fault of yours, Mat
thews. If he had not gone for you
he would have gone for some one
else. He was out of work and accept
ed your offer eagerly. The next
morning he went off in good spirits,
but he never came back again. A
friend marked his grave, but l have
no hopes Of ever looking upon the
spot where he lies buried.
"These memorial days bring back
my griefs afresh, but my Fathers
hand is in it all, and soon l shall join
them in the land where farewells arc
never spoken"
"You must come out to the country
and get a breath of pure air. A few
of our sunshiny days would put new
life into your blood, and my good
wife would soon bring roses back to
the cheeks of these pale damsels,
whom / cheated out of father" said
John Matthews drawing his sleeve
across his eyes.
1t was arranged finally that he
should call in week for the desolate
family, but he did not leave until he
had slipped a gold eagle into the poor
wasted hand outstretched to him at
parting.
MARY" said he, after rehearsing
his story in the presence of his wife
and son, II have about concluded to
give that little cottage in town to Mrs
Pritchard and her children. 1t would
be mighty easy to haul q load of coal
now and then, or throw some wood
or apples into the wagon when we
are going to mill. You know we
would never miss such things"
"But we must give so we will miss,
John. Just think what your fate
would have been if Lenox Pritchard
had not died in your stead. It's no
charity, but debt We owe this fam
ily."
"You are right, Mary. While
John Matthews lives his substitutes
wife and children shall not want"
The little cottage was neatly fur
nished, and a week later Mrs. Prit-
chard aud family found a pleasant
home beneath it's roof. Through
their benefactor's influence Alice Sc
cured class in music and once more
the joyous tinge of health came back
to her mothers wan face. To make
our story complete l must tell you of
a quiet wedding celebrated at that
home few years later, when Alice
wore the orange blossoms, and DR.,
Roy Matthews placed the wedding
ring upon her finger.
Little Nell is teacher now herself,
but she will never forget the day
when Matthews came to her ON 1ng
the graves of the dead heroes, who
had friends to weep for them.
In a quiet corner of the village
churchward, far removed from the
noise and hustle of the city, there is a
solitary grave, marked by plain
monument, with the name Of Lenox
Pritchard inscribed upon it. On
Decoration Day it is siewn with
more flowers and wet with more tears
than those of Nell and her mother.
w ashington County Romance.